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Friday 22 March 2019

Coast Guard leader: More money needed to compete in Arctic

Continued from Front The USCGC Polar Star’s crimination at its academy “My vision for the Coast reserve corps to backfill po-
crew recently had to de- in New London, Connecti- Guard is that every mem- sitions when service mem-
Besides the backlog, Schul- vise repairs to damage that cut. ber of our team has the bers are on leave as well as
tz said the Coast Guard caused flooding while the A report last year from the right and the expectation for new parents.
needs modern infrastruc- ship was heading back to
ture at home ports for its its port in Seattle after de-
newest ships, including livering supplies to Antarc-
those sent to the North and tica.
South poles. There is funding for one
The admiral said he was new icebreaker and mate-
greatly concerned about rials for a second, he said,
the nation’s limited ice- but added that the Coast
breaking capability in the Guard needs a total of six
resource-laden, geo-strate- icebreakers.
gically important polar re- The Coast Guard’s top offi-
gions while countries such cer said personnel did vital
as Russia and China are ex- work while not being paid
panding icebreaker fleets, during this year’s partial
bases and, as a result, their government shutdown and
influence in the region. outlined initiatives to ad-
The Coast Guard has only dress issues facing female
two icebreakers, one me- and minority service mem-
dium and one heavy polar- bers.
class ship. The latter is 43 The service has been under
years old and well past its fire for its handling of sexual
service life, Schultz said. harassment and racial dis-

A U.S. Coast Guard Station Los Angeles-Long Beach 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew conducts
a hoist demonstration with a Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco-Forward Operating Base Point
Mugu MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew in the Port of Los Angeles, on Thursday, March 21, 2019.
Associated Press

Department of Homeland to come to a safe work- “Now our truly dedicated
Security’s inspector gener- place, to be part of a ser- women can better focus
al found the Coast Guard vice that values them as an on their families and their
failed to adequately re- individual, free from threats well-being without wor-
spond to a female faculty and discrimination,” Schultz rying about the impacts
member’s complaints of said. of their absence on their
sexual harassment in 2015 He said he was committed workplace and their col-
and 2016 and subjected to real change on issues leagues,” Schultz said.
her to additional harass- including child care and A similar study will be un-
ment after she made them. housing. dertaken this spring to look
The report recommended A study commissioned last at recruitment and reten-
extra training for supervisors year to determine why tion of underrepresented
and managers on discrimi- women stay on the job at minorities to make the ser-
nation, harassment and a disproportionately lower vice more reflective of the
bullying policies. rate than men will be re- nation, he said.
The academy was already leased next week, and a Senior leaders will consider
the subject of a congres- task force will find ways to changes including easing
sional investigation for ha- implement recommenda- tattoo policies, removing
rassment, bullying and dis- tions, Schultz said. single-parent disqualifi-
crimination against minority He announced a policy to ers and revising outdated
cadets. use surge staffing from the wage standards, he said.q